Sixteen comments

As a Northumbrian I know this one as "The Blanchland Races". Blanchland is a lovely little village in South Northumberland with lots of old sandstone buildings, and for such a little place, there are quite a lot of tourists in summer who all head for the tea rooms. I’m not sure of the true origins of the tune - some people have said that it is English, but I would probably agree with you on this one, Trevor. It sounds more Scottish than Northumbrian, but there are a lot of Borders tunes that appear to have been passed back and forth between both sides of the border to the extent that the tune’s origins get lost along the way. I would guess that since the tune has been around for a long time in Northumberland under a different name, if it is Scottish, it will be a Scottish Borders tune.
Mark

Peter Street

Peter Street

John McGann has this tune in his Book "Octave Mandolin & Bouzouki" which plays very nicely in A, and I have transposed it to G for ease of playing. I haven’t heard it in a session before, anyone care to venture why? It’s an excellent reel with a tricky part in B, where you have to make sure the timing doesn’t get hung up.

J. Scott Skinner - Timour the Tartar

In a book I have, it says this tune (Timour the Tartar) was recorded in 1910 by the Scottish fiddler J. Scott Skinner, "The Strathspey King".

… though the version I have has "fewer" notes and is a Strathspey.

For example, in the second and fourth bars, there are no alternating low A’s or low E’s (respectively). The bars are simply written as quarter notes. A few other bars have quite a few differences. The tune posted here seems to be a slightly Irished-ized version. (I know, that’s not a word….)

Name otf the tune

I don’t remember the name on the vinyl but this tune was played by Dave Swarbrick on one of this solo album in 197xxx …with some little differences
May be "The Nightingale ?" but I’m really not sure
(sorry for my bad english, I’am french…)

This very simple yet effective reel is, I’m guessing, from Scotland. I first heard it whilst playing with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra about five years ago. My first traditional music experience I think!

Here is a link for you to hear the reel…you just catch it at the end of the thirty second long sample:

Re: Peter Street

Timour the Tartar, X:5

This version from boxplayer Thomas Sheridan of Boston. It was also recorded by Boston bandleader Dan Sullivan on keyboard as one of several tunes in a medley titled, "Nano’s Favorites" here: https://youtu.be/vCQORrS63EY?t=1m18s